Consumers are planning to spend an average of $20.75 on Halloween outfits this year -- 14 percent less than in 2008, according to the National Retail Federation.

That's scary news for some retailers. But at low-cost thrift stores such as the non-profit Goodwill, where overall sales for the year through August were already up 6.9 percent over the same period in 2008, the outlook couldn't be much better.

And customers are lining up for the bargains.

"We're seeing a lot of new faces overall, and I would say it's due to people having less to spend," said Sheri Marzolf, vice president of marketing for Value Village, which stocked stores nationwide with 5 percent more new Halloween goods than in 2008. "We all anticipate that we'll have a very strong year."

Halloween has long been to thrift stores what Christmas is to all other retailers -- the season that counts. Even in good times, people would rather zombify a $5 used sweatshirt than the cardigan they got at the mall.

But with so many watching their wallets this year, more people are making thrift stores their one-stop shop, even for costumes they don't have to shred, and the perfect place to trade economic woes for a chance to get creative.

How could you not? Discount stores have, for years, drawn both the thrifty and crafty this time of year with their witch's brew of new and old: A self-renewing warehouse of second-hand shirts, skirts and jackets sharing aisles with the latest seasonal accessories -- the wigs, tights, masks and makeup that complete the outfit.

And every day, the selection is different. If an item donated in spring looks like a princess gown or G.I. Joe's uniform, it's saved for September. But if you come in the day after somebody dashes away with that perfect vampire cape -- well, better luck next year.

To see how it all comes together, we asked on-staff costume consultants at the Value Village in Crown Hill and the Goodwill on Dearborn Street to help us assemble 12 costumes using only the donated clothes and new Halloween accessories that are available in their stores.

We had way too much fun, which should be obvious from our photo gallery. But we also managed to learn a few things. So if you're planning to visit a thrift store this Halloween, remember to:

1) Choose your approach.

Thrift stores are good for both keeping it simple or going nuts. So know before you go. Julie Bertucci, full-time costume consultant at Value Village, made just a few pieces add up to Elvis. Goodwill's Gary Foy, a former fashion designer, went a little crazy, adding everything from bangles and scarves to robes and glasses to make our costumes extra impressive. Are you going to spend as little as possible, or buy up a little more flair? Have a strategy, but don't worry -- both will cost less than you think.

2) Make it your own.

So you want to be a female bridge officer from the original Star Trek series. But where in a thrift store are you going to find a dress with that exact cut, that slanted neckline and that arrow-shaped badge? "If it brings the image to mind, that's good enough," said Bertucci, who made it work with a donated 60s style loose-sleeved dress, shiny red boot tops and a piece of paper cut into the shape of the franchise's familiar icon. And if something doesn't work one way, try it another. Bertucci found a red jacket for our Michael Jackson costume, but the outside didn't have the right sheen. So she turned it inside-out. And there was the King of Pop.

3) Just add wig.

Thrift stores are just big recycled closets. But if there's one new item that'll take your costume from dress-up to change-up, it's a wig -- especially when you jazz it up. Foy tamed our pirate's long locks with a braided bandanna and tousled our housewife's blond wisps with pink curlers. And no one can be Princess Leia without at least an attempt at those earmuff buns (and ours was just that -- an attempt). Stick-on facial hair can take a look further for just a buck or two more. "I love mustaches," said Foy. No kidding. He put one on our pirate, our injured ski bum -- even our cowgirl.

4) Accessorize!

Gloves, tights and jewelry are obvious enough. But who wants to be an '80s girl when a "Guitar Hero" prop can make her an '80s rock star? Accessories can come from just about anywhere in a thrift store, from the sporting goods section where Foy found our skier's boot to the tucked-away basket where Leia's robe cord was hiding. But watch out. Costumes thrive on excess, but the cost of accessories adds up quick.

Costume consultants are available to help customers assemble costumes daily at Value Village and Saturdays and Sundays from 11-3 at the Goodwill store on Dearborn.